Song of Solomon 8

1 Oh that you were like my brother, who nursed from the breasts of my mother! If I found you outside, I would kiss you; yes, and no one would despise me.

How I wish you were like a brother to me, one who nursed at my mother's breasts! Then if I met you on the street I could kiss you and no one would tell me off.

2 I would lead you, bringing you into the house of my mother, who would instruct me. I would have you drink spiced wine, of the juice of my pomegranate.

Then I could take you home to my mother's house, where she used to teach me. I would give you spiced wine to drink from the juice of my pomegranate.

3 His left hand would be under my head. His right hand would embrace me.

He supports my head with his left hand, and holds me close with his right.

4 I adjure you, daughters of Jerusalem, that you not stir up, nor awaken love, until it so desires.

Women of Jerusalem, swear to me that you won't disturb our love until the right time.

5 Who is this who comes up from the wilderness, leaning on her beloved? Beloved Under the apple tree I awakened you. There your mother conceived you. There she was in labor and bore you.

Who is this coming in from the wilderness holding her love close to her? Woman: I woke you up under the apple tree where your mother conceived you, and where she gave birth to you.

6 Set me as a seal on your heart, as a seal on your arm; for love is strong as death. Jealousy is as cruel as Sheol. Its flashes are flashes of fire, a very flame of Yah. (Sheol h7585)

Stamp my name as a seal on your heart, like a seal on your arm, for love is strong as death, passion as unyielding as the grave—its arrows flash like fire, a blazing flame of the Lord. (Sheol h7585)

7 Many waters can’t quench love, neither can floods drown it. If a man would give all the wealth of his house for love, he would be utterly scorned.

Floods of water cannot extinguish love; rivers cannot submerge it. If a man offered everything he owned in order to buy love he would be completely rejected.

8 We have a little sister. She has no breasts. What shall we do for our sister in the day when she is to be spoken for?

We have a younger sister whose breasts are still small. What shall we do for our sister when someone asks to marry her?

9 If she is a wall, we will build on her a turret of silver. If she is a door, we will enclose her with boards of cedar.

If she is a wall, we will build a silver tower on it. But if she is a door, we will bar the way with cedar planks.

10 I am a wall, and my breasts like towers, then I was in his eyes like one who found peace.

I am a wall, and my breasts are like towers. So when he looks at me he's happy!

11 Solomon had a vineyard at Baal Hamon. He leased out the vineyard to keepers. Each was to bring a thousand shekels of silver for its fruit.

Solomon had a vineyard at Baal-hamon which he leased to tenant farmers. Each of them paid him one thousand silver coins for the fruit it produced.

12 My own vineyard is before me. The thousand are for you, Solomon, two hundred for those who tend its fruit.

But I own my vineyard, it is mine alone. One thousand silver coins are for you, Solomon, and two hundred for those who look after it.

13 You who dwell in the gardens, with friends in attendance, let me hear your voice!

My darling, sitting there in the gardens with companions listening to you—please talk to me!

14 Come away, my beloved! Be like a gazelle or a young stag on the mountains of spices!

Come quickly, my love! Be like a gazelle or a young deer on the mountains of spices.